We have a split-level house from '72 that smelled when we moved in (dressed concrete block walls on the entry level). Now we've redone the entry level, so all the risky material is gone, and it smells fine there (plastered and painted walls). However, we've discovered that the upstairs and clothes still smell but differently. At first, we thought it was all the textiles and furniture that retained the smell. But the difference between the entry level and the upstairs becomes more noticeable as time goes on. Also, it smells worse near the exterior walls, which we previously "explained" as not being airtight and the smell from the entry level rising there. But that's no longer the case. We notice the smell by 3/4 exterior walls, probably because we spend time adjacent to those three.
Initially, I considered the sills (see thread), but that seems mainly focused on when they are in a position to absorb moisture. I still think the sills that lie on the foundation wall are impregnated with Cuprinol. But for the moisture to rise that high is unreasonable given the conditions with drainage and soil type.
After searching and searching, I've found that even old wind barriers can apparently smell. According to the internet, it smells somewhat sweet and musty. That fits quite well since the smell is different and milder compared to the smell we had on the entry level (which smelled of affected wood and made our eyes tear up).
Does anyone know or have experience with this?
Does the wind barrier also need to have been wet to start smelling? Or is it enough that it's old? I'm doubtful that water has leaked into all the walls? Additionally, it smells more when the sun has been on the walls, i.e., it smells more now in the summer.
Initially, I considered the sills (see thread), but that seems mainly focused on when they are in a position to absorb moisture. I still think the sills that lie on the foundation wall are impregnated with Cuprinol. But for the moisture to rise that high is unreasonable given the conditions with drainage and soil type.
After searching and searching, I've found that even old wind barriers can apparently smell. According to the internet, it smells somewhat sweet and musty. That fits quite well since the smell is different and milder compared to the smell we had on the entry level (which smelled of affected wood and made our eyes tear up).
Does anyone know or have experience with this?
Does the wind barrier also need to have been wet to start smelling? Or is it enough that it's old? I'm doubtful that water has leaked into all the walls? Additionally, it smells more when the sun has been on the walls, i.e., it smells more now in the summer.
I will follow this with interest. I have a toilet upstairs that smells really bad. I'm wondering if old plastic materials in carpets and wallpaper can smell bad? Do you have any old plastic mat perhaps? Your tip about the wind barrier was interesting. Maybe one should pry off a facade board and have a sniff.
We have a split-level house built in '69 that smelled when we moved in. Most of the smell disappeared when we tore down the outer panel and masonite for facade replacement. It smelled terrible from the container where the material was after the demolition. Now it's OK. It might smell a bit if you put your nose to the floor on the ground floor, but we are not completely finished tearing out the old floor there yet.
I've pretty much ruled out the surface layers even though I've heard that plastic carpets can smell and we have plastic carpets throughout the upstairs. However, I think it would be a more chemical smell, strong and pungent. Ours is musty. But the smell is concentrated on the exterior walls. We have a closet along the exterior wall that smells (the clothes smell), and there are no plastic carpets there. On one wall, we have a pine panel that was previously lacquered and is now repainted, and it smells too (was thinking that the porous board the rest of the house is clad with was the problem). I'm quite sure the problem is the exterior walls.dymlingen said:
No, we kept the framework and the insulation. The Masonite was placed directly on the studs and then paneling without an air gap. There was no wind barrier; the Masonite probably served that function. After demolition, we added about 25 cm of insulation and new paneling.
I'm going a bit OT here, but if you added 25 cm of insulation on top of the existing one, how did you solve that at the foundation above ground, which I guess you have since you have a split-level house?MalinW said:
The new regulations were attached to the foundation wall with long custom-ordered angle irons. Below ground, we re-drained and added 20 cm of isodrän. Above ground, between the isodrän and the new facade, we installed multiple layers of foam board to ensure good insulation there as well. On the foam board, we mounted concrete panels, so now it looks like a regular foundation. The house got a completely different appearance after this 
The insulation and several other measures have reduced our electricity consumption from 21,000 kWh/year to 7,000 kWh/year.
The insulation and several other measures have reduced our electricity consumption from 21,000 kWh/year to 7,000 kWh/year.
Thank you!MalinW said:The new regulations were attached to the foundation with long custom-ordered angle irons. Below ground, we re-drained and added 20 cm of isodrän. Above ground, between the isodrän and the new facade, we applied multiple layers of foam plastic for good insulation there as well. On the foam plastic, we installed concrete panels, now it looks like a regular foundation. The house looks completely different after this
The insulation and several other measures have reduced our electricity consumption from 21,000 kWh/year to 7,000 kWh/year.
We have 10 cm of isodrän below ground and plan to add 12.5 on the facade, so it will be a total of 22 in the walls above ground.
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Are you sure it's the walls and not the floor?
Houses from '72 often have a slab on grade... It takes so little to stink up the whole house.
We bought a "risk" house just over a year ago with confirmed mold (due to smell). When we tore out the floors to install Nivell (mechanically ventilated) flooring, we found a mold spot about 20x30 cm on a floor chipboard. That was all there was, the rest was dry and fine...
Best regards,
Anders
Houses from '72 often have a slab on grade... It takes so little to stink up the whole house.
We bought a "risk" house just over a year ago with confirmed mold (due to smell). When we tore out the floors to install Nivell (mechanically ventilated) flooring, we found a mold spot about 20x30 cm on a floor chipboard. That was all there was, the rest was dry and fine...
Best regards,
Anders
Yes, we don't have slab on ground in the basement level and as I said, after fixing up that level, we notice that it is the upper level that smells, along the exterior walls. In the basement level, we have concrete floors but everything is tiled, and there is no embedded wood anywhere. And now we actually have a better smell below ground than in the living areaanders07 said:
Old thread, but I'll try anyway. Did you find the cause of the bad smell by the exterior walls?